Get matched with top holiday decorators in Wall, SD

While Christmas lights are a wonderful way to light up your home during the holiday season, they don’t have a long lifespan. Most incandescent Christmas light bulbs are designed to last between 1,000 and 1,500 hours—or about one to three holiday seasons. More durable LED bulbs should last about 10 times as long. 

Yes, you can synchronize Christmas lights with music to create a DIY light show. To do this, you will need several components. For hardware, you'll need standard holiday lights, decorations, lawn ornaments, tools, outdoor-rated extension cords, a computer, and a light show control system or digital controller. You will also need specialized software to program the show; popular options include Light-O-Rama (LOR), Vixen, xLights, and Animated Lights. Some, like Vixen and Animated Lights, are considered more beginner-friendly. The process involves using the software to program your lights, choosing an audio method such as speakers or an FM broadcast, and testing the entire system to make sure it's working correctly before the show.

You can tackle hanging Christmas lights yourself with the right tools, accessories, and a trusted friend or neighbor. You’ll need to purchase a ladder ($100 to $300), clips ($10 to $20), hooks ($10 to $15), and lights ($25 to $100 per string).

Otherwise, you should hire a trusted holiday light installer near you. You’ll pay an average price of $200 to $650, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing that the job is done correctly and safely.

An affordable Christmas light bulb testing and replacement tool can make the job easier. But you can most likely make all necessary repairs yourself using common toolbox items if you’d rather avoid purchasing another gadget.